The decennial census yields a wealth of data, which have virtually unlimited applications. A comprehensive data program offers census information on the Internet, in electronic media (CDROM/ DVD), and in print. A complete list of Census 2000 data products, with their release status, is available at http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/c2kproducts.html.

Detailed results of Census 2000 are contained in a series of five files called summary files. These can be accessed through the Internet and on CD-ROM or DVD. In addition, three series of reports derived from these files are available in print and in Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet.

Census 2000 data are available at several locations on the Census Buraus Web site. The Census 2000 Gateway page provides links to Census 2000 data, information, and reference materials. It is accessed from the Census Bureau's home page (www.census.gov) or at http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/index.htm. Links from the Gateway page include American FactFinder®; State and County QuickFacts; other prepared Census 2000 tables, including rankings and comparisons; reference materials; user updates; and Census in the Schools.

American Factfinder (factfinder.census.gov) is the most comprehensive source of Census 2000 data, providing all summary file tables for all levels of census geography. Quick tables (single geography tables) and geographic comparison tables (data for more than one geographic area) are also available on American FactFinder

Most Census 2000 tabulations are also available on CD-ROM and/or DVD. Viewing software is included on the DVDs and most CDs. These may be ordered by phone through the Census Bureau's Customer Services Center on 301-763-4636, or via e-commerce by selecting Catalog from the Census Bureau's home page. For more information on the products and ordering options, access the Census Catalogs product order form at https://catalog.mso.census.gov.

The first Census 2000 data files released are the information required for local redistricting. The data include tabulations of 63 race categories, cross-tabulated by Hispanic or Latino and not Hispanic or Latino for the total population and the population 18 years old and over. These tabulations are presented for areas as small as blocks, census tracts, and voting districts. They are available through the Internet (American FactFinder) and as a CD-ROM series (state files). In American FactFinder (factfinder.census.gov), all redistricting data tables are available by selecting Data Sets on the FactFinder main page. FactFinder also has one quick table and one geographic comparison table based on this file.

This file presents counts and basic cross-tabulations of information collected from all people and housing units. This information includes age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, household relationship, and whether the residence is owned or rented. Data are available down to the block level for many tabulations, but only to the census-tract level for others. Summaries are included for other geographic areas, such as ZIP Code® Tabulation Areas(ZCTAs) and Congressional Districts (106th Congress). There are individual state files and two national files in this series. The final national file provides the first available urban and rural data. The complete Summary File 1 is available on the Internet (American FactFinder) and on CD-ROM/DVD.

Additional tables derived from this summary file are also available on the Census Bureau's Internet site. These can be located through the Census 2000 Gateway page at http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html. Related products include a demographic profile that provides a snapshot of the geographic area, quick tables, geographic comparison tables, and two printed report series, Summary Population and Housing Characteristics (PHC-1) and Population and Housing Unit Counts (PHC-3).

This file presents data similar to the information included in Summary File 1, but the tables in this file are iterated for a selected list of race and Hispanic or Latino categories and for American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. These data are shown down to the census tract level for up to 250 race and ethnic categories that meet a specified minimum population size threshold of 100 in a geographic area. The complete SF 2 is available on the Internet (American FactFinder) and on CD-ROM/DVD. American FactFinder also offers various quick tables and geographic comparison tables derived from SF 2.

This file is the first release of the information collected on a sample basis. It includes data on income, educational attainment, poverty status, home value, and population totals for foreign born and ancestry groups. Data are provided down to the block group level for many tabulations but only down to the census tract for others. SF 3 also includes data by ZCTAs and Congressional Districts (106th Congress).

Data for each state and a national file are available on the American Factfinder and on CD-ROM/DVD. Related products include a three-page demographic profile available on the Internet, various quick tables and geographic comparison tables available through American Factfinder, and a printed report series, Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics (PHC-2).

This file includes tabulations of the population and housing data collected from a sample of the population. Just as in Summary File 2, the tables in SF 4 are iterated for a selected list of race and Hispanic or Latino origin groups and for American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. Tables are also iterated for 86 ancestry groups. SF 4 is available on the Internet (American FactFinder) and on CD-ROM/DVD. American FactFinder also offers various quick tables and geographic comparison tables derived from Summary File 4.

Microdata products allow users to prepare their own customized tabulations and cross tabulations of most population and housing subjects, using specially prepared microdata files. These files are the actual responses to census questionnaires, but with names or addresses removed and the geography sufficiently broad to protect confidentiality. Microdata are available on CD-ROM/DVD and may be available for query via the Internet.

There are two PUMS files: a 1-percent sample for developing tabulations for metropolitan areas and a 5-percent sample that provides tabulations for state and substate areas. Both files are available on CD-ROM/DVD.

Tabulations can be prepared online using the full database of individual responses, subject to restrictions and filters required to protect the confidentiality of individual responses. The Internet availability of this function is subject to policy decisions on access and confidentiality.

There are three series of printed reports with one report per state and a national summary volume. These reports are sold through the U.S. Government Printing Office. Much of the information in these series is available earlier in other data products. For release and ordering information, see the Census Catalog (a href="https://catalog.mso.census.gov/" target="_blank" class="doc_ExternalLink">https://catalog.mso.census.gov/).

Profiles and other data tables are generally available on the Internet. Printed copies of the profiles are offered as a print-on-demand product. Contact the Customer Services Center (301-763-4636) for pricing and availability.

This publication series includes information on the 100-percent population and housing subjects. The data are available for the United States, regions, divisions, states, counties, county subdivisions, places, metropolitan areas, urbanized areas, American Indian and Alaska Native areas, and Hawaiian home lands. This series is comparable to the 1990 CPH-1 report series, Summary Population and Housing Characteristics. The series is also available in PDF format on the Internet.

This publication series includes information on the sample population and housing subjects. Data are shown for the same geographic areas as Summary Population and Housing Characteristics (PHC-1) described above. This series is comparable to the 1990 CPH-5 report series, Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics. The series is available in PDF format on the Internet.

This publication series includes population and housing unit counts for Census 2000 as well as the 1990 and earlier censuses. Information on area measurements and population density is included. This series includes one printed report for each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico plus a national report. The series is available in PDF format on the Internet.

Demographic profiles, quick tables, and geographic comparison tables include predefined sets of data to meet the needs of the majority of data users. They are convenient and readily available sources when moderate subject and geographic detail is needed. Demographic profiles (PDF) are available on the Census Bureau's Web site. Demographic profiles as well as quick tables and geographic comparison tables are available through American FactFinder.

A variety of maps, boundary files, and other geographic products are available to help users locate and identify geographic areas. These products are available in various media, such as the Internet, CD-ROM, DVD, and, for maps, as print-on-demand products. A complete description of Census 2000 geographic products and resources is available at www.census.gov/geo/www/.

These files contain geographic boundaries and codes, streets, address ranges, and coordinates for use with commercially available geographic information systems (GIS) for mapping and other applications.

These maps show the boundaries, names, and codes for American Indian and Alaska Native areas and Hawaiian home lands, states, counties, county subdivisions, places, census tracts, and census blocks. This map series is also produced by specified governmental units (e.g., American Indian/Alaska Native areas, Hawaiian home lands, counties, incorporated places, and functioning minor civil divisions).

These county maps provide the boundaries and numbers of census tracts and names of features underlying the boundaries. They also show the boundaries, names, and codes for American Indian/Alaska Native areas, counties, county subdivisions, and places.

This series shows the boundaries for tabulation areas including states, counties, American Indian reservations, county subdivisions (minor civil divisions (MCDs)/census county divisions (CCDs)), incorporated places, and census designated places. This series includes the state and county subdivision outline maps, urbanized area maps, and metropolitan area maps. These maps vary in size from wall to page size.

Census 2000 data products, their availability, and their prices are described in the Catalog portion of the Web site. The catalog can be reached from the Census Bureau home page by selecting Catalog from the side bar or at https://catalog.mso.census.gov.

American FactFinder (AFF) is the system that presents comprehensive data from Census 2000 as well as other Census Bureau data programs via the Internet. Reference materials about the data, including subject and geographic glossaries, are available by selecting Data Sets in the subject bar along the left side of the AFF main page (factfinder.census.gov). It also can be reached from www.census.gov by selecting American FactFinder from either the Subjects A to Z side bar or by directly selecting the American FactFinder side bar. Both bars are located on the left side of the screen.

Technical documentation includes an abstract, a how-to-use chapter, the table layouts, the summary level sequence chart, the subject and geographic glossaries, accuracy of the data, and the data dictionary. CD-ROM and DVD products include the relevant technical documentation file on the disc. Technical documentation for files released on CD-ROM/DVD is also available on the Web site at http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/.

The Census Bureau's Customer Services Center sells the Census 2000 CD-ROM and DVD products. These can be ordered via e-commerce from the Census Catalog at https://catalog.mso.census.gov/ by telephoning Customer Services at 301-763-4636.

The Census Bureau also has an active customer information program in each of its 12 regions. This program, called the Partnership and Data Services (PDS) program, provides information about Census Bureau statistics and offers training and assistance to data users. The Partnership and Data Services specialists in the Census Bureau's 12 Regional Offices answer thousands of questions each year. State coverage for each region as well as contact information is available at http://www.census.gov/contacts/www/c-regoff.html.

The Census Bureau furnishes data products, training in data access and use, technical assistance, and consultation to all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. State Data Centers (SDCs), in turn, offer publications for reference, specially prepared reports, maps, other products, and assistance to data users. A component of the program is the Business and Industry Data Center (BIDC) Program, which supports the business community by expanding SDC services to government, academic, and nonprofit organizations that directly serve businesses. For a list of SDC/BIDCs, including their services and their Web sites, access http://www.census.gov/sdc/www/.

The Census Information Center (CIC) program is a cooperative activity between the Census Bureau and national nonprofit organizations representing interests of racial and ethnic communities. The program objective is to make census information and data available to the participating organizations for analysis, policy planning, and for further dissemination through a network of regional and local affiliates. For a listing of the organizations and the contacts, access http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/index.htm.